UK and Ireland Time: Same Clocks, Different Names
The UK and the Republic of Ireland show the same time all year, so crossing the border changes nothing on your watch.
What is the same
Both countries use Greenwich Mean Time in winter and one hour ahead in summer, and both change their clocks at the same moment, 01:00 UTC on the last Sundays of March and October.
What is different
In the UK, summer time is called British Summer Time, BST. In the Republic of Ireland it is called Irish Standard Time, IST, which is also the abbreviation for India Standard Time and Israel Standard Time. The result is that a confusing abbreviation can hide the fact that nothing changes.
Irish law treats the summer clock as the 'standard' time and the winter clock as a negative offset, a technicality that has no practical effect.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dublin the same time as London?
Yes, all year.
Clock change guides
- What Is Daylight Saving Time (DST)? A Plain-English GuideWhat daylight saving time is, how it works in the UK, Europe and the US, why it exists, its history, who uses it and the argument over scrapping it.
- Why Do the Clocks Go Back in October? The Real ReasonThe clocks go back in autumn to return the UK to GMT, so winter mornings are lighter. The history, the rule, what time it happens and what changes for you.
- When Do the Clocks Go Forward Again After Going Back?When the UK clocks go forward again after the autumn change, how long the UK stays on GMT, when evenings get lighter and how to remember to reset your clocks.